Association between sleep quality and uncertainty stress among healthcare professionals in hospitals in China: a nationwide cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Objectives Sleep quality is a critical concern among healthcare professionals, yet the role of uncertainty stress has been inadequately explored. This study aims to explore the associations between sleep quality and uncertainty stress among healthcare professionals working in Chinese hospitals.Design Cross-sectional survey.Setting Data were collected via a cross-sectional survey administered to healthcare professionals across three Chinese provinces from 29 September 2022 to 18 January 2023.Participants A total of 1902 participants contributed valid responses for analysis.Primary outcome measure Sleep quality.Results Out of 1902 respondents, 26.4% reported uncertainty stress and 50.5% experienced insomnia. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that higher uncertainty stress significantly predicted poor sleep quality (OR=3.89; 95% CI 3.06, 4.95; p<0.001) while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Furthermore, linear regression analysis confirmed the similar relationship between uncertainty stress and sleep quality (β=3.10; 95% CI 2.67, 3.52; p<0.001).Conclusions The study highlights a significant association between uncertainty stress and impaired sleep quality among Chinese healthcare professionals. These findings suggest the necessity for targeted strategies to mitigate uncertainty stress, which may potentially promote better sleep and overall well-being in healthcare settings.